2006 Queen Elizabeth II's Eightieth Birthday Five Pound Crown Piedfort Silver Proof Coin
Born in April 1926, Elizabeth II became heir presumptive in 1936 and came to the throne at the age of 25 in 1952. Now in her ninth decade, Her Majesty is the longest-lived and longest-reigning British monarch in history. The Royal Mint has marked many milestones for the Queen but in 2006 they celebrated her eightieth birthday with a suite of Five Pound coins, including this Piedfort silver proof edition with selected gold plating. This Crown features a trio of fanfare or herald trumpets with ceremonial banners, bearing the royal arms. The trumpets are depicted with gold plating in a design which stands out. Designed by Danuta Solowiej Wedderburn, the legend reads ‘VIVAT REGINA’ which means ‘Long live the Queen’, a nod to the royal birthday. Around the edge is transcribed ‘DUTY SERVICE FAITH,’ recognising her strong relationship with the Church, as well as the role she plays in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. Wedderburn’s design is paired with Ian Rank-Broadley’s portrait of Her Majesty the Queen, in use between 1998 and 2015. Struck to proof standard in 56.56 grams of .925 sterling silver with selected gold plating, this Crown coin measures 38.61 millimetres across. It’s offered in its original presentation packaging and capsule from The Royal Mint with a numbered certificate of authenticity. 5,000 coins were issued in this presentation. System.Threading.Tasks.Task`1[System.String] System.Threading.Tasks.Task`1[System.String]